Owen Update!

I wish I could weave every incredible moment into a blog post; cataloging each priceless minute into word form, lest I ever start to forget these days. But, 'aint nobody got time for that'... and so here I am, with a list of sweetness that I don't want to forget but no real moral of the story as far as post writing goes. Can you guys handle some rambling and rabbit trails? Because that is the essence of my life with a two year old :)
The little man is changing so fast right now. We gave him a summer haircut and it seriously aged him by three years! (Why doesn't anyone warn you about that?) When he falls he doesn't want to be immediately comforted and smothered by motherly goodness. He needs space and, while that hurts my heart a little, it truly is magnificent to watch him assess the wound and then re-assure himself that 'Owen's tough' and 'Owen's brave' before finally coming to me for a kiss and a bandaid or simply dusting himself off and resuming wild man activities.

Owen's 'happy place' is the middle spot in a giant, three-way hug with Derek and I. He wraps one arm around each of our necks and, as we squish our cheeks up to his, he says 'boff of dem' (both of them), with a grin stretching ear to ear. Other happy places include the jungle: we put on long pants and marinate in bug spray and then trek into the middle of nowhere to see what we can see and we might as well be at Disney World, there is that much excitement bubbling out of him! Also, swimming... all day, every day, in the ocean, in a pool, in a bucket, in the tub, in Kai's ice cream gallon container of water. He is a fish. And with the way he has mastered all the 'average' sea creatures and moved on to more specific and complex species (i.e jelly fish, manta rays, clown fish, convict tang) he may have a future in marine biology!
Owen's hobbies include painting, excavating, reading, cooking with Mom, 'working hard' with Dad, and perfecting the summersault! We're working on counting, abc's, colors, and warming up to the thought of a 'baby brudder' joining the family in a few months. For all his rough and tumble-ness, Owen has a tender heart and is quick to check on anyone who is hurting or sad. He also reminds me, quite regularly, to 'eat one a time, Mom.. don't choke!' (mostly in reference to mangos..) and also 'Go caffully, Mom! Don't wipe out!' What a gentleman.

In the morning Derek asks Owen what time it is and he responds, with gusto, 'Coffee time!' He has also become a fine connoisseur of hot milk and specifically instructs us in each step of the process: 'Wam it up, put shugar in and stir it UP!' We've resorted to bribery in the potty-training department and, although I'm hesitant to speak too soon, it does seem to be working! Maybe we'll be finished with diapers just in time for Baby Brudder to take over.
Needless to say, there is no shortage of laughter, lessons to be learned or messes to be cleaned up in this house. Of all the ways Owen is developing and growing, my absolute favorite, both to observe and be a part of, is his blossoming relationship with Jesus Christ. His prayers at night are priceless; thanking Jesus for all the people in his life and the things he did that day. The other night his words took me completely off guard as he prayed about the dead bird he and his Dad had found earlier. He thanked God that the bird was 'flying with Jesus now, not hurting anymore and not crying'. Little did he realize that would be enough to make ME cry! Journeying through life with a little one may be cause for much rambling and rabbit trail wandering, but it is also one of life's greatest joys and God's biggest blessings! What a wild, beautiful adventure.